Dorothy Riedel

Dorothy Jean Shortley was born August 12, 1934, to Elton Brown Shortley and Dorothy Willett Shortley in Des Moines, Iowa. She passed away from cancer on July 10, 2026 at Batavia Nursing Care Center, Batavia, Ohio. She was just shy of her 92nd birthday.

Jean was the second born to the family of six children.

Jean attended schools in Des Moines until she and her sister, Harriet, stayed with their friend Jill Rumsey in Crystal Lake, Illinois. There, Jean attended high school for grades 9-12, graduating in 1952. While at Crystal Lake she was on the cheerleading team and was Homecoming Queen.

She worked for an insurance company the summer of 1952 and then started college at Iowa State University (formerly known as Iowa State Teacher's College). She pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority while there and met her future husband, Jack Riedel, on a double date.

Jean and Jack married on November 23, 1955, in Des Moines. She worked for United Airlines while Jack completed his studies at Drake University. Upon graduation from Drake, Jack's first job moved them to Alliance, Ohio. Throughout their marriage, they moved several times for promotions with their last move to Anderson, Indiana. She stayed at home being a Wonderful Mother to their three children, Scott, Cyndi, & Jeff.

Jean had many interests - genealogy being one of which she did huge amounts of research and compiling information for family members to keep and pass onto their families. She also organized many of her Crystal Lake High School class reunions (she was secretary of the class). So creative in making huge face pictures of her classmates for each to have and all the extra projects she worked on to make their reunions unique and special. She had many collections she displayed in her house, one being ink wells she bought while on trips and P. Buckley Moss art work. She loved to cook (excellent cook), play bridge, and golf. Jean was meticulous in taking care of her house and yard. She had wonderful neighbors in Anderson who looked after her and helped her with various projects

Jack passed away in 2019 having just celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary.

Jean was Wonder Mom to their three children, with so much love and support for Scott, Cyndi (Beggins), and Jeff (Lisa). Jeff, Cyndi, and Scott and granddaughter Ashley preceded her in death. Jean & Jack were blessed with seven grandchildren, Cyndi and Joe's Ashley and Alex. Scott and Lynn's Andrew, Allyson (Chris Mlincsek) and Austin. Jeff and Lisa's Eric and Anna. Her grandchildren and great granddaughter Layla Mlincsek were the light of her eye...so PROUD of all of them. She deeply loved them all so very much. Another great granddaughter is on the way

Preceding Jean in death were her siblings Harriett Stephen, John (Jack) Shortley, Nancy Faylor, and Elinor Mann. Her youngest sister, Sue Willett, survives along with many nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Jan Riedel, and daughters-in-law Lisa Riedel, Lynn Riedel, son-in-law Joe Beggins. She touched many lives with her kindness, thoughtfulness and caring. She was a great Mom, Wife, Sister, Aunt, Neighbor, Friend. Jean will be missed by all who knew her.